Improvement in combined agricultural implements



tutt-t %iatrt CHARLES It." RAND, `OF' DBUQUE, IOWA.

Letters Patent No. 111,871, dated February 14, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may. concern Beit known that I, GHARLEs It. RAND, of Dubuque, in the county ofDubuque and Stateof Iowa, have invented'cer-tain Improvements in Combined Agricultural Implements, of which the following is a spccitication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

Myinvention relates to a combined agricultural impleinen't, and consists in a wheeledframe,and various interchangeable devices which may e connected thereto, whereby the machine may be converted at will into a corn-planter, corn-drill, grain-drill, hay-rake, hay-tedder, cultivator, gang-plow, or a potato-digger.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my machine arranged as a corn-planter, the section being'taken on the line :c .tof iig. 2.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine arranged asa corn-planter, but with one ot the cornhoppers removed. l

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a longitudinal section and a top plan view oi' the machine, with the seed drill attachments applied, a'portionot' the hopper being broken away for the purpose of exposingfthe drillteeth.

Figures 5 and (i are respectively a side elevation and a top view ofthe machine, with both the tcdder and hay-rake applied, it bcing, of course, understood that this is done for the sake of illustration merely, and that, in practice, one is applied .to the exclusion of the other.

Figures 7 8, and-9 are respectively a longitudinal section, a top plan, and a rear elevation of the machine arranged as a cultivator or corn-plow; and

lFigures l() and 11 are a side and a baci; view ot' one of the teeth used when planting corn.

In proceeding toconstruct my ma'ehinc I-first provide a shaft or axle, A, and mount loosely on each end thereof a large wheel, B, so that it can turn freely thereon but cannot move laterally.

To the middle of shaft A; 1 attach, by means of suitable boxes, the rear end of a tongue or draft-pole, C, the axle being left frec to turn in the boxes while the tongue is prevented from moving sidewise ou the axle.. l

On the shaftAI mount a strong rectangular frame, D, so as to be nearly balanced thereon, and so tha-tit isfree to tilt or vibrate on the axle so as to be brought to any required inclination.

On the tongue C I mount a segmental raclvbar, (t, and on the front ofthe frame D I lmount a pinion, I1, gearing into rack d and operated by a hand-wheel, o, so that, by turning this latter, the pinion is caused to travel up and down the rack, and thereby to tilt or tip the frame D upon the axle or shaft A.

As the rear end of the fra-Ine D, when certain devices are attached thereto, is llnuch heavier than' the forward end, the frame tends to fall over backward. To prevent this I attach to the side of the `pinion b a' ratchet-wheel, d, and attach to the pinion-support apa wl, e, which engages in the ratchet-wheel and preJ 'vents the pinion from turning backward so as to let the frame tip backward. l

For the purpose of lock'ing the frame at any inclination desired, I make a series of' holes,f, through the rack-bar a., and secure to the side of the pinion-support a spring arm, g,'having at its free end a pin, h, which may bc engaged into any one ot' the holes j'.

The main frame D I make with four cross-bars, k, l, m, and n, as shown, one at each end, and one a short distance each sideof the shaft A.

0n each end ofv the axle, outside of the frame,'I mount a sliding clutch, i, working on a feather or spline, and on'the inner side of each wheel l) I foi'm corresponding teeth j, into which the clutch may be engaged, so as'to cause the Wheel to turn the shaft,

-cither or both vclutches being engaged for the purpose.

the frame b'y meansof a hand-levciyyr, attached rig- -idly to the inner end, as shown in gs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

By moving the hand-levers sidewise theclutches.y

may be engaged and disengaged.

On the front end ofthe frame I secure two parallel longitudinal bars, s, and on each of said bars I secure a plate, t, having .notches on its edge, into which notches the levers r may be locked, so as to hold the clutches in or out of gear, 'as desired.

On each end of the shaft A, just within the frame, I secure rigidly a cog-wheel, u, as shown in figs. 1, i?, 3, 4, &c.

rlo the cross-bar lof the frame, near each end, I attach a shaft, r, having a depending arm or crank, w, and an upright alamy, to be operated by the foot of the rider.

To the lower oud of each arm w I connect the forward end of a rod, having ahook and an eye at its back end, as shown in fig. 1, so that by pressing on arm y with thefoot the arm w may be moved so as to move thc rod z backward or forward, for operating the drill-teeth, Ccc., as hereinafter described.

On each ot' the longitudinal bars s I pivot a plate,

a", having a notch or opening, b X, in its edge, near each end, and two arms cx land d", as shown in figs. 1 and 2,'upon either of which the'operator may place his foot for the purpose ot' turning the plate on its pivot.

The purpose of this plate is to lock the arm y forward or backward, so as to hold the rod s in the required Each of these clutches is operated byy a pivoted le position. 'I'hey also answer other purposes, to be hereinafter described.

To each side bar of the frame, near the back end, I

secure a depending bracket, E, the two being directly nafter set forth.

The upper half of the box cx I make detachable, so

kas to admit of the removal and insertion of the shaft.

Toeach rear corner of the frame I secure metal blocks f", in thelnanner and of the form shown in figs. l, 2, 86o. v

"To thel cross-bars Z and lm. I secure the various staples shown, and to the barl two depending plates gx, having holes through their lower ends. The various parts, combined and arranged as above described, form the main 'frame ot' my machine, to which frame I attach different special devices, according to the purpose fon which the machine is to be used. l

.When the machine is t o be converted into a cornplanter, for automatically dropping the corn in hills at certain distances apart, I attach te the frame-bar corn-hoppersand drill-tubes.

The construction of the tubes or teeth I? is clearly shown in gs. l0 and 11.

lhey each consist of a small rectangular box or hopper, hx, having a rigid tube, fx,`attached to the bottm,and a hole,'y`x, made vin the' top, to one sidev of the line of thel tube, so that corn dropped int-o the top hole, instead of falling down through the tube, will fall on the 'bottom of the box at one side of the tube.

lhe bottom of the .box or hopper is inclined downward from all sides, toward the topor mouth of the .tube 5.x. n

Vithin the tube tx is mounted another tube, 7c", in such manner that it may slide up and down therein; and to the lower end of this latter tube is secured a V-shapcd shoe, Zx, having its rear side open.

On the side ofthe box hx is mounted a cog-wheel, mx, having on its inner sidea series of removable pins, nx, and below this vwheel is formed a journal, ox, to receivea detachable pinion, p'x, shown in iig. l.

This pinion gears into wheel mx, and4 is provided with a crank, frx, which may be connected by means of a pitman, s'x,.with the movable 'or sliding tube It", as shown in tig.-1. l

When thus connected, il the wheel 'z n-x -be turned, it will operate the pinion and cause' the crank and pitman to move tube kx up'and down within the outer i tube.

When tube kx is raised its upper end'projects up within the box orhopper hx, above the bottom ofthe same, so that corn dropped through hole jx will slide down the inclined bottom against 'the outside of -the tube lax b ut when the tube is shoved down, its upper .end is carried a .little below the bottom of the box,

and the corn thereby permitted to slide down through the tubes and out through the slioe lx, at the lower end of the same.

j The tubes -thus constructed I'hin'ge one under each side ofthe frame to the cross-bar m, sothat the wheel mx of each tube gears into the corresponding wheel u on the mainv axle A, so that when the axle is thrown in gear andthe machine drawn forward, the tubes kx. will be forced downward at regular intervals, and the shoe thrust into the ground at points equal distances apart, the two tubes kx beingr arranged'to rise and fall together. i

'lhe tubes I" are each .provided with an ear on the' front side, to'which I connect the end of the corresponding rod z, vso that by operating said foot-lever y the tube F on that side may be turned up backward or brought down to a vertical position.

By locking the lever y, by means otplate ax, the tooth may be h'eld in leither position, as desired.

Upon the frame I place twocorn-hoppers, G, which are, for the sake of convenience, mounted on 'one board.

lhese hoppers I secure in place by placing two U- shaped'met-al bands tx over the yboard on whichA the hoppers sit, and then inserting long keys or bars fax through the lower ends ofthe bands under the frame, and through the depending arms or plates gx of 'crossbar l, as shown in vfigs. 1 and 2.

In the bottom of each hopperl make a hole directly over hole j x in hopper ofthe tube F, sothat the corn will pass down through said hole into the tube.

Over the hole I place a pivoted plate, c", which may be turned over or away from the hole; and the free side of .the plate i provide with anV arm, which projects out through a slot in the end` ot' the hopper, and tits into an upright slotted level', wx, pivoted to the outside of the hopper, asy shown in figs. l and 2.

to hold the lever back, and thereby the plate Qf-x dver the seed-passage. 4

-The lower end of the lever projects down by the side of wheel mx, so that 'as the latter revolves, its pins nx cach strikes the arm and moves the plate cx so as to open the seed-passage to the tube F, the spring closing some when pin is past.

machine started the operation will betas follows:

The main wheels B'will turn the axle A `and its w-hcels u, and each of the latter will operate the wheel aux and crank-pinion px of the adjoining tooth, whereby the tube kx is moved up and down, and the plate cx at the same time moves, so as to open and close thc seed-passage between the hopper and. tube.

The parts are so arranged that the plate opens the passage and discharges corn from the hopper into the box hx ol' the tube F, while the tooth or tube k is raised, so that when the said tube is moved down to the lowest point and its shoe forced vinto the ground, the corn will drop down through, as before described, and thus be deposited into the ground below thesurface.

VThe tube then rises, corn is again discharged into the box at the top, and, the machine having proceeded forward the desired distance, the tube descends and deposits the corn for the next hill, and so on continuously.

' Vhe'n going to and from the field, or turning around, o'r when for other reasons it is not desired to have the machine plant, the levers y are pressed forward, and the'teeth or tubes 11 thereby thrown or turned up teeth serving to disconnect the wheels u and mx from each other, and thus stop the feeding devices.

VWhen the machine is to be converted into -a corndrill for merely opening the furrows and scatteringtlie corn along therein, I allow the hoppers and the teeth F to remain on the machine. I however remove the from the pinion-jonrnal ox. to the lower end of the "movable tube, so as to hold the latter rigidly extended, as in figs. l0 and 11, s o that it will enter the ground and open a continuous furrow as the machineproceeds. I also apply to the wheels on* an additional number of pins, so thatthe levers wx and the seedvalves connected thereto will be operated more frequently.

Then the machine is put in motion itwillA be seen the seed-passages will be opened very often, so as to let the corn feed down from the' hopper, through the tube F, into the furrows opened thereby.

levers, in the ysame manner as when used for a cornpla'nter.

It', now, it is desired' to 'convert the machine into .a

This lever has a spiral spring so connected to it as.

W'hen the various parts are thus arranged and the.

backward out of the ground, the turning back of the,

erank-pinion px and pitman s", and applyy a rigid bar The tubes may be thrown up by operating the footgrain-drill, I disconnect the rods z from the teethl",

@wardthan it previously occupied.

attached to its front edge.

and remove the latter and the corn-hoppers G from the frame. I then hinge to the crossibar l, side by side, two sets of' drill-teeth H, each set consisting of four or more teeth connected rigidly together, as in vor tubes, as shown in figs. 3 and 4, so that, by turning the rod, the teeth may be lengthened or shortened, as desired.-

To the lower ends of each of the teeth I secure a metal foot, 5*, for opening the furrow.

These feet I malte flat on their under side, and pointed at both front `and rear, so that, as they pass through the soil,they. do not throw the saine outward and leave an open furrow, but allow it to fall back and cover the seed discharged through the middle of the feet.

On the frame I mount a' long seed-hopper, I, having a row of holes through its bottom; and under the hopper-I place a laterally-sliding bar, at, provided with a corresponding row .of holes.

lhe holes in the hopper-bottom are located one over each drill-tooth II, so that, when the bar c2 is4 moved into such position that its holes coincide with those in the hopper-bottom, the seed will flow'fr'om the hopper, down through the bottom and the slide, into the teeth below, and through the teetlt into the furrows.

Across the front of the hopper I mount a horizontal shat't, e2, having ou its ends pinionslb?, and also inside of' the pinions eccentrics cz, which latter are connected, by yolies and pitmen di, with the respective ends of the slide or bar a2. Thus, when the shaft c2 is turned, its cceentrics slide the bar a2 forward and backward under the hopper, and alternately open and close the seed-passages.

On each end. of the hopper I mount a wheel, f2, gearing into the adjoining pinion of the eccentricshaft c2; and to the side of each of these. wheels I secure a pinion, [12, gearing into the adjoining wheel u et' the main shaft A.

It will thus be seen that, the machine proceeds, motion will be transmitted through the gearing to the eccentrics, and from the latter to the slide or bar a", which is constantly opening and closing the seed-passages, and that, therefore, as the teeth H open rfur-- rows, seed will be discharged with -regularity and uniformity into thc same. l

I connect one of the rods s with cach set of teeth, so that, by operating the foot-levers y, thc teeth may b e turned -up backward when necessary, or held down in place by locking levers -y by plates'c".

,'lhe depth to which thc teeth enter the ground may be regulated by adjusting the screw yx. 4 A

If, now, it is desired to transform the machine into a hay-rake, I remove the seed-hopper and thue drillteeth, and turn the rods s forward, and support them on hooks provided for the purpose at the front of the frame, as shown in figs. 5 and (i. I also disconnect the rods l from the clutch-levers o, so that the handlevers lr may be turned forward and backward. I also det-ach the plates a, turn them end for end, and place each one on the opposite bar s at a point further forrakc, J, consisting of a series of curved wire teeth attached to a bar, j, which latter has two eye-blocks, 71.2, rIhis rake I connect to the' rear end ot' the frame by inserting the eye-blocks h2 nlilto the blocks f", by passing pins through them, as sown.

l. then provide a4 'Io the cross-bar q2 of the rake I secure two upright l arms, and each'of the arms I connect, by means of a rod, i2, with the corresponding hand-lever r at the front ofthe frame, so that, by the joint action of both or separate action ot' either of' these levers the rakete'eth may be raised from the ground.

When traveling about with the machine, the levers r may be locked forward by plates a",'so as to hold the rake up.

To change the machine to a hay-tedder, I detach the rake .I and its rods fig, and in the brackets F I .nount a horizontal shaft, L, having a series of tangential arms, k2, attached to it, as in figs. 5 and 6.

On one end of this shaft a pulley, l2, is secured, and, this pulley I connect, bymcaus of a belt, with alarge pulley, M, attached vto the inside of one of the main wheels B, so that, as the latter turns, it serves to give a rapid rotary motion to the shaft and its arms. Ihe

arms, entering the grass or hay,toss the same upward, and turn it over and scatter it evenly upon the ground.

The Jredder-shaft may be raised or lowered, as desired, by changing the inclination of the frame, which is done by operating the hand-wheel at the front, as hereinbcfore described.

To convert the machine into a gang-plow I detach and removeV the tedder-shaft and belt, and suspend from the rear cross-bar of the frame six standards, M, as shown in fig. 7 ,each having a plow attached to its lower euch rIhe manner in which the standards are attached to the bar is clearly shown in fig. 7

lo the bar, at equal distances apart, are attached six metal blocks, y2, said blocks each having a transverse flange or lip ou the front and rear side. V

Io the upper end of 'each standard a block, m2, is so hinged as to let the standard'swing forward and backvward when the block is stationary.

This block fm'J is-inserted between the flanges of blocks'g, and secured by a piu, so as to allow the block inf-"and its standard to swing laterally.

When using the apparatus as a gang-plow, it is necessary to hold the plows very rigidly, and I therefore attach to the standards two bars across each other, so as to hold the six standards firmly together and prevent an'y'l'ateral movement, while, at the same time, the gangis permitted to swing freely backward and forward. I also turn down the rods s from their supports, and connect them, by chains ini, with the plow-standards, so that, by operating said rods by means ot the levers, y, the plowsmay be brought down into position to operate, o1` turned up forward out of the ground.

The plows may, of' course, be held forward by fastening the foot-levers by means ot' the pivoted plates a", before described.

Chains may also be connected from the plows forward to the cross-bar m of the frame, so as to relieve the foot-levers y from the backward strain of the plows when in operation.

As the machine advances the plows open six adjoining furrows in the usual manner. The depth of the furrows may be varied by tilting the frame more or less, whereby the plows may be raised or lowered.

rlhe plows, instead of being rigidly attached to the standards, are pivoted thereto, as shown in g. 7, so

that plow-points may be thrown up or down, as occasion may require.

For the purpose ot` securing the plow in different positions, I-"pivot to its front end a bar, oi, having a series of holes in its upper end, through`either of whicha pin may bc inserted into a hole in thc stauds ard. g

If, now, it is desired to change the machine 'into a double-row cult-ivator or corn-plow, I first remove all the plows, and then attach to the under side of the rear bar of the frame a long bar, p?, having f our metal blocks, r2, attached to it, two at the middle and one at eachA end, as shown in g. 9.. I. then take four of the' plows M, two-right and two left-handed, and attach them tothe blocks r? of bar p2, in the 4manner shown in gs. 7 8, and 9, so -thatxthe lmiddle plows throw their furrows outward and the outer plows their furrows inward, as in fig. 9, I then connect the four plows by cross-bars, sothat they cannot swing. 4laterally, and also connect them, by chains, withfrods z, so that they` can be moved forward and back by the footlevers y. The whoie,thus arranged, forms an ordinary corn-cnltivator, which will hill up on both sides oi`- tufo rowsat' thelsame time;

' Themachine may be changed into a potato-'digger by detaehing thepiows as used for a ou'ltivator, and attaching to each rear corner two plows close together, and arranged to throw their furrows outward from each other. As the machine is carried forward each paii of plows will run under or through a rowand turn the potatoes out to the surface.l In this way I produce a very ecient machine, which opens two rows at the same time.

PHIL. T. DODGE, HARRY KING. 

